Partner Choice Research Articles

Fairness, partner choice, and punishment: An ethnographic study of cooperative behavior among children in Helsinki, Finland

AbstractThis article draws upon ethnographic fieldwork among children in Helsinki, Finland, to determine how cooperative behaviors unfold in their everyday lives. Two concepts—fairness and partner choice—emerged as particularly relevant, and related behaviors were examined in the context of ongoing debates regarding cooperation in human societies. Children consistently invoked fairness as an important moral value, and they showed evidence of undergoing a developmental shift from equality‐based to equity‐based fairness by around seven years old. Children mediated disagreements primarily through partner choice strategies (avoidance and disengagement) rather than partner conflict (punishment). Local social values and child‐rearing practices that promote personal autonomy and independence make punishment undesirable and rare in this context. The observed aversion to punishment in Helsinki differs from typical characterizations of so‐called WEIRD societies and demonstrates the value that nuanced ethnographic studies in diverse societies can bring to understandings of human cooperation.

Bevacizumab in first-line therapy in lung metastases of colorectal cancer: An ARCAD pooled analysis.

118 Background: Anti-VEGF is widely used in the treatment (trt) of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Only studies with bevacizumab (BEV) have shown survival benefit (bnf) in first line trt. The magnitude of bnf might differ based on the metastatic (met) site and the chemotherapy regimen (CTR) with which BEV is partnered. ARCAD database contains individual patient data (IPD) of randomized trials that evaluated BEV+ CT. In this pooled analysis, we aimed to evaluate BEV bnf in mCRC with lung metastases (mets) either as single or multiple sites. Methods: IPD from four trials (AVF2107g, N016966, AVF2192g, AGITG) comparing CT +/- BEV were pooled. The primary endpoint, overall survival (OS), was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic value of lung mets was evaluated by stratified Cox models according to number and type of met sites and CTRs, oxaliplatin or irinotecan (OX/IRI) based. The predictive bnf of BEV was evaluated by interaction test (int) between trt and lung mets status in subgroups and considered as significant (sig) with a P < 0.1. Results: 2728 patients (pts) with known met sites and survival data were pooled. 1020 pts had single met site, 133 had only lung mets. 1708 pts had multiple met sites, 1008 had lung mets. Pts characteristics were well balanced. Sig OS bnf of BEV was observed in the whole population. In pts subgroup according to the presence or absence of lung mets, sig bnf of BEV were observed with a non-sig int ( Pint=.590). Non-sig bnf of BEV was observed in pts with single site regardless of met site (lung or no lung) or CTR. Sig bnf of BEV was observed in pts with multiple sites without lung mets whatever the CTRs. While sig bnf of BEV was observed in pts with multiple sites with lung mets, we found a sig int between BEV and OX/IRI-based regimens ( Pint=.022). The bnf of BEV was observed with IRI-based regimen but not in OX-based regimen. The bnf of BEV appears greater in multiple sites without lung mets than with lung mets with a sig stratified log-rank test ( PLRT<.001). Conclusions: In pts with multiple sites mCRC, a statistically sig OS bnf of BEV added to CT was observed mainly among pts without lung mets. The overall effect of CT partner choice when combined with BEV can be different. In pts with single site, BEV did not seem to improve OS but the evaluation of efficacy of BEV in presence or absence lung mets was based on small number of pts and needs to be evaluated in trials with larger pts sample, especially trials including pts with single site lung mets. [Table: see text]

99 + matches but a spark ain’t one: Adverse psychological effects of excessive swiping on dating apps

Studies showed adverse experiences related to the use of dating applications such as Tinder. However, it remains unclear by which mechanism and under which conditions dating app use has undesired effects. As a mechanism, we investigated excessive swiping, operationalized as youth’s mental preoccupation with profile browsing and swiping compulsivity. As moderators, we investigated swiping in assessment (i.e., critically evaluating profiles), and locomotion (i.e., taking intuitive gut decisions) modes. To this end, we surveyed a quota-sample of 464 transition age dating app users (16–25 years old). Moderated mediation analyses showed that dating app use was associated with excessive swiping, which was in turn linked to a) upward social comparison, b) fear of being single, and c) partner choice overload. In conclusion, frequent dating app use was related to undesired outcomes only when it was related to excessive swiping. Neither assessment, nor locomotion mode moderated these relationships; thus, excessive swiping is detrimental for young dating app users’ well-being, no matter how they swipe.

Attitude Disparity and Worrying Scenarios in Genetic Discrimination-Based on Questionnaires from China.

Objectives: As genetic testing is increasingly used in non-medical fields, the judgment of people's potential conditions based on predictive genetic information inevitably causes genetic discrimination (henceforth GD). This article aimed to systematically investigate the disparity in attitudes and worrying scenarios concerning GD in China. Methods: A questionnaire survey of 555 respondents was conducted. Statistical tests were used to examine disparity in attitudes between gender, age, and education. A descriptive analysis was also conducted to explore other worrying scenarios. Results: It shows that (1) men are more tolerant of GD compared to women, and (2) participants aged between 18 and 30 years old possess the highest objection to GD. However, (3) no indication can attest to the relationship between educational level and perspective on GD. In addition, (4) the acceptance of gene testing in the three most common scenarios is ranked in descending order as follows: partner choice, insurance services, and recruitment. Moreover, (5) worrying scenarios relating to GD include: education, social occasions, medical services, fertility, shopping, and so on. Conclusions: Based on the results, suggestions proposed include developing a blacklist mechanism in the field of genetic data application and strengthening the security regulations for the commercial use of genetic data.

Information Needs of Rural Secondary School Students on HIV/AIDS in Katsina State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine information needs of rural secondary school students on HIV/AIDS in Katsina State. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 180 students. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysis was carried out using frequency counts, percentages, Chi square and Pearson product Moment Correlation. Results revealed that majority (54.4%) were within secondary school age of 16-20 years; non-boarded (67.8%), awarenrss (83.3%) and 43.9% have family size of 11-20. Radio (¯x=2.01), school authority (¯x=1.99), television (¯x= 1.61) and posters (¯x=1.57) were information sources though; school authority (¯x=2.62), radio (¯x=2.44), television (¯x=2.26) and posters (¯x=1.96) were the most preferred sources of awareness. Access to information sources was mostly constrained by lacks of power supply (¯x=1.54), television viewing centre in school (¯x=1.52), and contact with change agents (¯x=1.51) and poor coverage of HIV/AIDS news on newspapers/magazine/newsletters (¯x= 1.48). Majority (63.3% had high level of constraint. Also level of information needs was high to majority (67.2%). Symptoms (¯x=2.68), choice of marriage partners (¯x=2.66), availability of antiretroviral drugs (¯x=2.63) and sources of infection (¯x=2.62) were major areas of information needs. It is concluded that secondary school students’ information needs on HIV/AIDS in Katsina State is high. The distinct peculiarities of school as a culturally heterogeneous community should be studied and noted. In this sense, appropriate use of three major Nigerian languages: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages are sin qua non in HIV/AIDS awareness creation in schools.

Hosts winnow symbionts with multiple layers of absolute and conditional discrimination mechanisms.

In mutualism, hosts select symbionts via partner choice and preferentially direct more resources to symbionts that provide greater benefits via sanctions. At the initiation of symbiosis, prior to resource exchange, it is not known how the presence of multiple symbiont options (i.e. the symbiont social environment) impacts partner choice outcomes. Furthermore, little research addresses whether hosts primarily discriminate among symbionts via sanctions, partner choice or a combination. We inoculated the legume, Acmispon wrangelianus, with 28 pairs of fluorescently labelled Mesorhizobium strains that vary continuously in quality as nitrogen-fixing symbionts. We find that hosts exert robust partner choice, which enhances their fitness. This partner choice is conditional such that a strain's success in initiating nodules is impacted by other strains in the social environment. This social genetic effect is as important as a strain's own genotype in determining nodulation and has both transitive (consistent) and intransitive (idiosyncratic) effects on the probability that a symbiont will form a nodule. Furthermore, both absolute and conditional partner choice act in concert with sanctions, among and within nodules. Thus, multiple forms of host discrimination act as a series of sieves that optimize host benefits and select for costly symbiont cooperation in mixed symbiont populations.

How Do Young Children Manage Their Reputation among Peers?

Young children’s reputation management is closely related to their social development. The purpose of our study is to examine the interaction between theory of mind and partner choice on children’s reputation management. Participants consisted of 270 children who were 3 to 5 years old. First, we measured participants’ theory of mind capabilities using the unexpected location task and unexpected content task and then randomly divided the participants into the control group, non-partner–choice group, and partner-choice group. We measured reputation management by comparing children’s willingness to share and sharing behavior between these groups. The findings are as follows: (1) Children from ages 3 to 5 demonstrated reputation management, and their reputation management followed a significant developmental trend. The reputation management of 4- to 5-year-old children was significantly better than that of 3-year-old children. (2) Scores on the theory of mind tasks positively predicted children’s reputation management. (3) Partner choice affected children’s reputation management. In the partner-choice group, children’s reputation management was more apparent. (4) Partner choice did moderate the relationship between theory of mind and children’s reputation management. In the partner-choice group, theory of mind had a stronger predictive effect on children’s reputation management.

THE PARENTAL FAMILY AS A MODEL OF YOUTH MARRIAGE FORMATION (AN ETHNO-CULTURAL ASPECT)

Abstract. The purpose of this work is to theoretically explain and empirically investigate the role of socio-psychological characteristics of the parental family in shaping marital partner choice. The subject of the research is the role of socio-psychological features of the parental family in shaping the choice of a marriage partner by young people of different ethnic backgrounds. The specific socio-psychological moral climate of the family has a certain influence on the course and realisation of many spheres and functions of future marital and family relationships. The nature of personal development and socialisation in family relationships is also influenced by the birth order described in the concepts of sibling positions. The role and place of religion in people's lives is emphasised, and the likelihood of its influence on family values is assessed. Undoubtedly, the decisive factor in personal development, upbringing and formation is the family, the moral climate of which determines what kind of person growing up will be and the very choices he or she will make in later life. It is in the family that the initial stage of personal socialization takes place and the processes of identification, including the child's personality, take place. All this is a topical issue for the study of marriage and family relations of specific ethnic groups.
 It has been found that there were links between the level of family well-being, parental upbringing style, religious views, level of material security, ethnicity and the characteristics of the choice of future partner. It has been found that there are differences in the socio-psychological features of the parental family and the choice of future partner by young people of different ethnic backgrounds. The findings add to the theoretical basis of the science and open up perspectives for future research on the topic.

Gender Roles in Turkish Society: A Journey through Elif Shafak’s Honour and The Forty Rules of Love

Through her novels “Honour” and “The Forty Rules of Love Elif Shafak” Elif Shafak brings forth differential roles assigned to men and women in Turkish society. These novels analyze how society conditions boys and girls from a very young age to conform to these roles. In patriarchal societies, women usually bear the brunt of such conditioning. These include restrictions placed on ambitions, clothing, choice of partners, reproductive rights behavior in public, etc. They are often forced to compromise their happiness for the sake of their family and society. Women who dare to follow their dreams are often faced with violence and some are even killed by their family members to regain family honour. The novel “Honour” examines the evil practice of honour killing which still exists in some parts of Turkish society. When women are found to diverge from accepted codes of conduct, the family members, usually the father or the brother, murder them to regain the lost honour of their family in society. Through the character of Ella Rubinstein in “The Forty Rules of Love Elif Shafak”, Shafak examines the discontented life led by women across the globe even while performing the dutiful roles of a wife or a mother. The author highlights the need to redefine gender roles based on individual happiness and norms of equality.

Применение контент-анализа при изучении освещения процессов распада СССР в американских печатных СМИ (1989–1992 гг.)

The article summarizes the preliminary results of studying contemporary American print media coverage of the USSR collapse. The purpose of the work is to determine the relevance of this topic not only for the American political establishment, but also for the public in general. Moreover, the use of media material is intended to complement the range of topics covered in official sources in connection with the discussion of the United States’ role in the development of political processes in the last years of the USSR’s existence and the consequences of the Soviet Union collapse for Americans. The study employs quantitative content analysis of the corpus of texts compiled on the basis of a continuous sampling by given lexical markers from the most popular US newspapers, as well as from the regional press. As a result, the frequency of distribution of materials along the time axis was revealed, indicating a relatively high, but short-term interest in the historical process in question. In addition, the main macro-topics of these texts were identified indicating the priority issues for the American reader. The most significant discussion aspects and assessments of the events in the USSR covered in the press included, firstly, the need to support the ongoing processes in the Soviet Union, which also reflects the role of the United States in the emerging relations, and secondly, the choice of partners (emerging actors) within the USSR for the further formation of policies. It is ensuring the national security of the US that determines the solution of these issues for the American audience. It is assumed that the study of media coverage can be a valuable addition to the analysis of other types of sources, both of official and personal origin, since it expands the range of views and attitudes presented.

Corporate Integrated Management of Groups and Associations of Enterprises

The article is devoted to the theoretical justification and development of methodical support for the formation of the system of integrated management of groups of enterprises. The essence, content and principles of building an integrated management system are revealed. The methodical approach to the implementation of group development tasks based on the coordination of group members’ interests has been improved. The integration trends of economic development are considered. The definition of integrated management as a complex functional management system, which ensures the development of interdependent management solutions, each of which makes its contribution to the overall performance of enterprises and the group as a whole, has been improved. It was determined that the formation of any group of enterprises and the integration of the management systems of its individual members should be carried out on a systemic basis, for which the use of holaric methods of analysis of sub-holistic objects is proposed. It is proposed to consider each enterprise as a separate hierarchical level in the group structure, and the subject of integrated management includes all actions and relations between group members and within each of them. It is proposed to build a system of integrated management based on certain principles, which are proposed to be divided into: general principles of integrated management of a group of enterprises; principles of organizing the integrated management process; principles of organization of integrated management structures; cybernetic principles of managing complex systems. Therefore, the system of integrated management should be implemented on a comprehensive basis, ensuring the interdependent solution of the tasks and obtaining high final results of the activities of all members of the group. Accordingly, it is proposed to consider the group as a set of chains of added value creation and distribution of logistics interaction, in which the members of the group are considered as separate links of the logistics system. Thus, an integrated logistics network is created, the main goal of which is to create such organizational and economic conditions that will allow maximum satisfaction of the requirements of all members of the group by making compromise decisions and overcoming inconsistencies between various elements of the system. To facilitate the construction of such a network, the concept of an integrated supply chain was introduced and the stages of its construction were highlighted, a typology of logistic relationships of group members was developed, and a scheme of interaction between value chains was presented, oriented to the emergence of a synergistic effect for the group as a whole. Based on the analysis of the integration trends of the economy, it was established that in any case, the main reasons for the ineffectiveness of the group association may be either the choice of the wrong partner or the poor management of the new entity. This led to the development in the work of the technology for evaluating the organization and the effectiveness of the group’s activity, based on the calculation of certain parameters and the development of ways to bring the indicators of the group’s activity to the optimal value. At the same time, it is proposed to select several groups of indicators and their corresponding assessment methods. The first group includes indicators of the efficiency of the integrated management system, which reflect the final results of the group’s functioning. The second group of indicators, which characterizes the content of the integrated management process, takes into account the current costs of maintaining the management apparatus and its provision. Another developed group of indicators will characterize the configuration of a group of enterprises and assess the compliance of the SIUGP with the object of management. These are such indicators as: the density of the group, the degree of its centralization, homogeneity, closedness, prevalence, structural autonomy and similarity, the closeness and strength of business ties, the stability of the network. Their calculation will allow a more thorough approach to the solution of the main tasks that arise before the integrated management system.

Traditional Pre-Christmas Holidays of Western Podillya

"The article analyzes folk winter holidays celebrated in December before Christmas as the greatest holiday of all Christians. There is a combination of folk (pre-Christian) traditions with Christian traditions, which co-exist to this day. The holidays analyzed in the research are dedicated to the most common names of saints in Western Podillya (as well as in Ukraine as a whole), which are most often given to the local residents. Dmytro’s/St. Demetrios Day celebration, in addition to its Christian custom, characterized by church services in memory of martyrs and honoring birthday people, is also known by the traditions related to celebrating the land in winter period, protecting cattle, as well as the cult of deceased ancestors. Celebrations of Dmytro’s/St. Demetrios holiday are proceeded by the celebration of Michael’s Day, which symbolizes the arrival of winter. In Western Podillya St. Michael is known as a protector against evil forces. He is also perceived by the locals as the patron saint of wild forest animals and hunters. Until the middle of the 20th century St. Catherine’s Day celebration in Western Podillya followed the rituals reflecting pre-Christian beliefs. Among them are rites of “destiny calling”, fortune telling and divination (considering the destiny of a future marriage couple), as well as honoring the cult of ancestors. During Varvara/St. Barbara celebration the most evident are magical actions associated with fire and water as the main elements in the world creation and symbols of the Nativity of Jesus Christ in the Christian tradition. Such lunar symbols as dumplings and pies are important for the understanding of celebration rituals. Most ritual actions convey love courtships related to the choice of a future marriage partner. St. Anna’s holiday completes the cycle of holidays related to Christmas celebrations. It marks the beginning of Christmas preparations: women clean houses, men arrange farm buildings and property, provide food for festive meals, girls organize groups for singing carols and other traditional customs of Christmas holidays celebration. Keywords: Western Podillya, Christian religion, ceremonial action, divination, folk holiday. "

The Attitude of Young Adults to Others in Culturally Diverse Environments

The subject matter discussed in the article comprises the issues related to social relations, in particular with making life choices by young adults: the decisions related to the choice of friends, the choice of a life partner or a consent to the marriage of the child with a person of a different religion or nationality. The research with the use of the survey method was conducted among students from the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, living in culturally diverse areas. The surveyed students show an open attitude towards Others in terms of religion. The results of the study confirmed the earlier tendency to choose close acquaintances and friends, regardless of their religious denomination. Students are a little less willing to choose a life partner and are aware of the difficulties encountered by mixed marriages.

Changing priorities for choosing life partner in present era

Present study was planned to assess changing priorities of respondents for choosing life partner in present era and their association with independent variables. A self-prepared questionnaire was used to collect the data from a sample of twenty five boys and twenty five girls of 16-28 years of age group were randomly selected from Rath and Jhansi City. Results revealed that maximum respondents were in the age category 20-22 followed by 23-25 years. The education data highlighted that 21% were post graduate followed by 16% were graduate. About 19% respondent’s parents were in business followed by 13% agriculture. Almost equal percent of respondent’s parents have income below Rs.10.000 and Rs.10, 000 – Rs.50, 000 per month. The results further portrayed that majority of respondents (70%) agreed that priorities are changing regarding choice of life partner in present era while 26% respondents were having neutral level. Only 4% of the respondents disagree with the concerned point. No association was visible with any of the independent variables (age, education, occupation and income).

Examining the characteristics of Roma–non-Roma interethnic romantic relationships using decision tree analysis

Interethnic romantic relationships can be perceived as indicators of integration, but they can also be facilitators of successful social integration. This is why we considered it important to study Roma people who had already had a non-Roma partner. We were looking for answers to the question of what is characteristic of these people compared to those who have only been in a romantic relationship or marriage with a Roma partner throughout their lives. In our study, we investigated the correlations using a Khi2 test and decision tree analysis on a sample of 535 Roma people in Hungary. Among the sociodemographic characteristics, gender, marital status, actual relationship status, educational attainment, belonging to a Roma community (Romungro, Olah, Boyash), occupation and settlement type were significantly associated with whether Roma respondents had ever had a non-Roma partner. Roma people with less than eight years of primary education had the most homogeneous partner choice habits. Roma people with more than eight years of education, unmarried, cohabiting with their partner or not living with their partner had had non-Roma partners in the highest proportion. As educational attainment increases, it can be assumed that more and more Roma-non-Roma romantic relationships and marriages will be formed in Hungary.

Putting the cart before the horse? The origin of information donation.

Heintz & Scott-Phillips propose that the partner choice ecology of our ancestors required Gricean cognitive pragmatics for reputation management, which caused a tendency toward showing and expecting prosociality that subsequently scaffolded language evolution. Here, we suggest a cognitively leaner explanation that is more consistent with comparative data and posits that prosociality and eventually language evolved along with cooperative breeding.

The central problem is still evolutionary stability.

We applaud Heintz & Scott-Phillips's guiding metaphor of "unleashing leashed expression," and we value the unified explanation for the emergence of not only language, but also other forms of unleashed expression, such as multimodal communication. We are more critical of the authors' discussion of the selection pressures acting towards unleashed expression, which are proposed to hinge on partner choice ecology.

Formation of the state-business partnership principles within the new institutional order of decentralization

Presented research summarizes the principles of arrangement and practical implementation of the state-business partnership (SBP) projects acquired by the global practice and substantiates their impact on achievement of effective results of partnership between the state and business environment within solution of social economy issues in terms of decentralization. In course of research, the authors used the system and evolutionary approaches, following which the essential understanding of the new decentralized architecture of local government and the institutional order of SBP development is formed to solve urgent economic and social problems of the region. This requires conducting of research integrally with identification of various specific features, direct and reverse connections and dependencies arising in course of arrangement and implementation of SBP projects in the regions of Ukraine. The research matter is analysis of the impact of certain principles on the effectiveness of final SBP project result efficiency in course of arrangement of the state and business capital involvement for its implementation. Practical content shall be determined by the fact that theoretical and methodological provisions, conclusions and practical recommendations constitute a scientific basis for development of a new integral concept on formation of the institutional order of the local state-business partnership arrangement in terms of management decentralization and their practical observance while SBP arrangement. The performed analysis confirms that the degree of compliance with certain principles concerning the SBP projects’ arrangement and implementation significantly affects its efficiency, public perception and creates incentives for dominance in public choice of the Putnam group partner (those caring primarily about public needs), rather than the Olson group (those thinking first of all about their own needs). The mentioned principles facilitate control of the budget funds’ use by civil society, minimize the risks and conflict situations between business and public. Conclusions about the ability of the specified principles of interaction between the state institutions and representatives of business environment to influence the inclusive markets’ potential for enhancement of well-being, innovation and investment in people, thus requiring the state to consider them as critical ones for the economic growth, achievement of well-being for the regional population, especially in the post-war period. Within the new institutional order with inclusive economic and political institutions, SBP development should be organically integrated into the general management system and be completely accountable and transparent. Key words: state-business partnership, business environment, private capital, decentralization, SBP projects, infrastructure, social economy, public control, self-government.

The Role of Accurate Self-Assessments in Optimizing Mate Choice.

Individuals are thought to seek the best possible romantic partner in exchange for their own desirability. We investigated whether individuals' self-evaluations were related to their partner choices and whether the accuracy of these self-evaluations was associated with mating outcomes. Participants (N = 1,354) took part in a speed-dating study where they rated themselves and others on mate value and indicated their willingness to date each potential partner. Individuals were somewhat accurate in their self-evaluations, and these self-evaluations were associated with individuals' revealed minimum and maximum standards for a potential partner, but not the number of partners they were interested in. Participants who overestimated their mate value were accepted by an equivalent number of partners compared with under-estimators, but the over-estimators were choosier and thus ended up with fewer (but similarly attractive) reciprocal matches. Results support social exchange theory and the matching hypothesis, and contrast findings that self-enhancement facilitates positive social outcomes.

CURRENCY INDEX AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEVEL OF COUNTRY’S DEVELOPME

The vast majority of foreign operations are serviced by currency. The exchange rate of the national currency has a significant impact on both the terms of foreign trade and the international movement of capital. For a more accurate assessment of the impact of the exchange rate on foreign economic activity, it is advisable to use the currency index as the ratio of the market (official) exchange rate to purchasing power parity. The aim of our study is to establish the relationship between the level of development of the country and the currency index (including quantitative), as well as the rationale for approaches to the choice of foreign trade partners based on the currency indices. As a factorial basis for the study, statistics in 130 countries of the world were used. In the analysis of the results, a hypothesis about the existence of the relationship between the level of development of the country (which was determined by GDP per capita) and the index of the currency index was put forward. The hypothesis test was conducted using correlation and regression analysis. The indicator of R2 was used as the criterion of connection density. The research was carried out both in the whole array of countries, and for individual groups. The analysis showed a fairly close relationship between the currency index and the level of country development (which is reflected in the high value of the coefficient of determination). Even the unification of countries into economic unions and the transition to duty-free trade does not eliminate the differentiation of the price level and, accordingly, differences in the currency index. This is confirmed by the analysis of the calculated in the article currency index for the EU. And even the use of a single currency in the euro area does not eliminate this problem.